Uncinais uncinata (Orsted)

Recognition

Dorsal hair chaetae are absent. There are 2 to 4 sigmoid, bifid chaetae per dorsal bundle starting on segment 5 or usually on 6. Older individuals have eyes. The ventral chaetae number 2 to 7, with those on segment 2 elongate. Eyes and coelomocytes are present. There are anterior dark bands like Ophidonais serpentina, which has only dorsal single, straight, simple pointed, rod-like dorsal chaetae or sometimes none at all.

Summary

The length is 5 to 18 mm. It lives in sediment with the anterior end protruding.

Distribution

It is a widespread holarctic species.

26 MAY 1996 D.L. Gustafson
AIM home page
dlg@rivers.oscs.montana.edu